News
Quid Novi to show how to live out your passions
Fourth showcase event to be at The Forge in Loveland
April 7, 2025
Most people have passions that, unfortunately, go with them to the grave. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Quid Novi, the organization in Northern Colorado that attempts to shed light on innovations, will demonstrate how to make passions come alive using the tools of the nonprofit sector.
Quid Novi, which is Latin for “what’s new,” will show participants at its next showcase how to easily form nonprofit organizations, how to run them successfully and how to raise money to fulfill their purpose.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Collaboratory Room just east of Grimm Brothers Brewery in Building B of the campus, presenters will include Dave Boon, co-founder of Empowering Opportunities and also the founder of multiple nonprofits using an easy three-step process that he’ll explain.
Also on the agenda is Kathi Wright, former executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Larimer County. Wright led the organization’s expansion from multiple, small programs to one program serving youth of the entire county.
Finally, Thom Munholland, co-founder of Friends of Lackota Animal Sanctuary, a horse rescue nonprofit will speak about the challenges of raising money. Lackota is a volunteer-based animal rescue, rehabilitation and sanctuary that provides refuge to about 150 horses, donkeys, mules and various other animals. The organization’s focus is on aging, lame, sick and disabled animals.
Between the three speakers, attendees will hear about forming, running and raising money for nonprofit organizations. Available at the event will fundraising experts and materials, including multiple copies of “How I Raised a Million in a Month,” a book written by former foundation executive Barbara Murray.
Quid Novi, founded in 2010 by Fort Collins resident Rick Griggs, seeks to cross boundaries for innovation and collaboration while encouraging participants to think and discover new ideas.
“It would take a lifetime to meet the variety of Quid Novi presenters you’ll meet in one year. They will broaden your vision, heighten your dreams and polish your confidence.”
In January, Quid Novi featured a program on “reinvention.” February’s program revolved around the theme of “transformation.” “Influencers” was the topic for March. The organization will take a break in May but return in June with a program on “leveraging your uniqueness,” followed by a program in July seeking to harness innovation to combat “scams, fraud and grift.”
The April 29 program will begin at 5:30 p.m. and run until 7:30 p.m. A $20 admission will be charged, which includes hors d’oeuvres. Drinks will be available for purchase.
The showcase will be at The Forge in Loveland, a center for innovation created on the former Hewlett-Packard campus, 815 14th St. SW.
Quid Novi to evaluate impact of ‘influencers’ in marketplace
Third showcase event will move to The Forge in Loveland
March 7, 2025
Business owners know: The age of traditional marketing is largely over. To be successful, businesses need to employ multiple channels in order to catch potential customers wherever their attention might be.
Among those channels, increasingly, is the social media space occupied by influencers – the Kardashians of whatever industry is discussed.
Quid Novi, which is Latin for “what’s new,” will explore the phenomenon of influencers at its next showcase on March 25. The showcase will move to The Forge in Loveland, a center for innovation created on the former Hewlett-Packard campus, 815 14th St. SW.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Collaboratory Room just east of Grimm Brothers Brewery in Building B of the campus, presenters will include two Fort Collins restauranteurs who have captured the attention of the hospitality industry with their Online Restaurant Academy.
The Online Restaurant Academy is an educational platform aimed at helping hospitality leaders and entrepreneurs thrive. Lauren Storeby and Tiffany Helton founded the academy in 2020. Its programs are a combination of online curriculum and coaching. It has drawn participants nationwide.
Storeby and her husband Shawn own Snack Attack. She left the apparel industry in 2017 to work in the restaurant business.
Helton is co-founder of Stuft Burger Bar . She has worked in the hospitality industry her entire career.
While competitors in business, they’re partners in the restaurant academy.
Quid Novi, an organization founded in 2010 by Fort Collins resident Rick Griggs, seeks to cross boundaries for innovation and collaboration while encouraging participants to think and discover new ideas.
“Everyone wants to innovate — few know how. By exiting our silos and crossing boundaries, we absorb new insights that refresh the brain and spark creativity,” said Griggs about the intent behind Quid Novi.
In January, Quid Novi featured a program on “reinvention.” February’s program revolved around the theme of “transformation.” Influencers will be the topic for March.
The March 25 program will begin at 5:30 p.m. and run until 7:30 p.m. A $20 admission will be charged, which includes hors d’oeuvres. Drinks will be available for purchase.
Additional information can be found at the Quid Novi website.
Quid Novi to explore ‘transformation’ in February event
Second showcase event will be Feb. 25 at Café Vino in Fort Collins
February 4, 2025
It’s hard to imagine any sector of society, the economy, the landscape that isn’t engaged in transformation – most of the time at full throttle.
That topic will be the theme of Quid Novi’s February showcase, which is scheduled for Feb. 25 from 5-7 p.m. at Café Vino in Fort Collins, 1200 S. College Ave.
Quid Novi — which is Latin for “what’s new” — relaunched in January after a multi-year hiatus. In January, the organization explored “reinvention” with innovator Ed VanDyne and author Mimi Wahlfeldt. Quid Novi seeks to cross boundaries for innovation and collaboration while encouraging participants to think and discover new ideas.
Quid Novi, an organization founded in 2010 by Fort Collins resident Rick Griggs, known for his Rolestorming problem solving technique, conducted innovation conferences that recognized people leading Northern Colorado’s creative output. The organization paused its work prior to the pandemic.
“Everyone wants to innovate — few know how. By exiting our silos and crossing boundaries, we absorb new insights that refresh the brain and spark creativity,” said Griggs about the intent behind Quid Novi.
The February program will feature Imaginatist Peter Donello, who through his motivational speech will encourage participants to think outside their normal realm of experience.
Also on the agenda is Martin Lind, the Windsor-based developer who is transforming the economic landscape of Northern Colorado, most recently with his Cascadia project.
Cascadia is the name of the proposed $1.1 billion development that would be built on the western side of Greeley and be positioned as a regional draw to attract visitors from a wide area of Colorado including the metropolitan area. Proposed is the building of a new hockey arena and relocation of the Colorado Eagles from the Ranch in Loveland to the new location.
Also proposed is the addition of several sheets of ice for amateur hockey and to attract national hockey tournaments. A hotel and convention center — previously proposed for a site west of Interstate 25 in Loveland — would include an indoor water park with 12 slides.
Also anticipated would be a range of restaurants, retail and other commercial developments, along with a residential component in the years ahead. Lind has asked the city of Greeley to support the development by guaranteeing bonds used to finance it.
Quid Novi to relaunch, feature ‘reinvention’ as its theme for January
First showcase event will be Jan. 28 at Café Vino in Fort Collins
January 7, 2025
Cross pollination. Collaborative conversation. Recognizing innovation.
All of these concepts fall under the mission of Quid Novi Innovations, which organizers plan to re-establish in the New Year.
On Jan. 28, Quid Novi — which is Latin for “what’s new” — will relaunch with a program that seeks to cross boundaries for innovation and collaboration while encouraging participants to think and discover new ideas.
Quid Novi, an organization founded in 2010 by Fort Collins resident Rick Griggs, known for his Rolestorming problem solving technique, conducted innovation conferences that recognized people leading Northern Colorado’s creative output. The organization paused its work prior to the pandemic. A new format will launch as 2025 begins.
The January program will be built around the idea of “reinvention.” Fort Collins author Mimi Wahlfeldt, who recently published her debut novel “Forks & Knives,” will be on the program. Her book explores the possible alternative paths a married couple might take as they grapple with addiction and codependence. The author will present her own (forced) early retirement as an example of how an unexpected life change paved the way for her professional reinvention.
Also speaking that day will be Ed VanDyne, founder of Plastic2Green, a startup that seeks to convert massive amounts of waste plastic into ammonia, which then can be used for fertilizer or broken into its component parts to produce hydrogen, often seen as a fuel of the future. VanDyne is credited with 40 inventions during his career; he also founded VanDyne SuperTurbo Inc., which he sold to Woodward Inc.
“Everyone wants to innovate — few know how. By exiting our silos and crossing boundaries, we absorb new insights that refresh the brain and spark creativity,” said Griggs about the intent behind Quid Novi.
Quid Novi plans monthly programs around themes that draw out innovative ideas and discussion. In February, for example, the theme will be “transformation.”
The programs will begin at 5 p.m. and run until 7 p.m. A $20 admission will be charged, which includes hors d’oeuvres. Drinks will be available for purchase.
The Jan. 28 program will be at Café Vino, 1200 S. College Ave. in Fort Collins.
General Inquiries
Quid Novi
970-690-7327